Knitting machine



March 3, 1936. LARKlN 2,032,993

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. LARKIN ,0 ,993

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 3, 1936.

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lllmhmlnm 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2,

March 3, 1936.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application August 2, 1933, Serial No. 683,382

9 Claims. (Cl. 66-9) Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrat- This invention relates to a machine for knitting a seamless tube in the form of a reinforcing layer of fabric around a primary member, such, for example, as the inner rubber tube employed in the manufacture of rubber hose pipe according to the disclosure of the copending application. of Sidney B. Blaisdell, Serial No. 593,594, filed May 23, 1931.

The machine made in accordance with the principles of the present invention is also adaptable to the knitting of a layer of fabric around an electric cable, in providing insulation thereon, or around a hollow primary member of a conduit adapted for receiving electric wires or cables.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine by which the fabric tube will be knitted tightly around and in close embracing contact with the primary member. More specifically, the present invention involves the provision of a novel form of web holder, by which a course of stitches hanging on the knitting needles will be held in a substantially fixed position as the needles are operated longitudinally through the stitches to interknit new stitches therewith in the formation of a succeeding course, thereby permitting the knitting thread to be placed under relatively high tension to cause the successively knit courses of stiches to embrace the primary member tightly.

The construction of the knitting machine and particularly that of the novel web holder and the operation thereof will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a knitting machine including the web holder of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the central portion of the knitting machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation drawn to a still larger scale and illustrating in detail the relation between the needle cylinder, the needles and the web holder;

Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive'are partial views similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating various steps in the knitting operation;-

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the elements in the positions illustrated in Fig. 8; I

Fig. 10 is an inverted plan of the web holder at the plane designated as Ill-I0, Fig. 3;

F g. 11 is a side elevation of a portion of a primary member with a short section of the knitted tube thereon; and

ing the movement of the primary member and knitted tube in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 3.

The knitting machine proper may be of any conventional type and for the purpose of illustratlon Fig. 2 of the drawings illustrates the machine as comprising a main bed plate I, to which is suitably secured a hollow annular member 2. The annular member 2 comprises a horizontally extending inturned flange 3 upon the upper side of which is secured a cylinder-supporting ring 4. The cylinder-supporting ring 4 is provided with an inturned flange 5 which supports a supplementary ring 6. The supplementary ring 6 is counterbored at I for the reception and support of the needle cylinder 8. The supplementary ring 6 is secured to the ring 4 by means of screws 9 and the cylinder 8 is secured to the ring 6 by means of screws I0.

Rotatably mounted on the ring 4 is a cylinder cam plate I I to which is secured a driving ring gear I2. The ring gear I2 snugly embraces and rotates about the periphery of the ring 4.

The needle cylinder 8 is provided with needle grooves l3, I3 which in the present instance are spaced laterally a distance approximately twice that of the ordinary spacing of the needle grooves of a cylinder of a particular gage.

Slidably mounted in each of the grooves I3 is a needle I4 provided with the usual form of butt I5 adapted to be engaged by usual knitting cams It. In the present instance, the machine illustrated is equipped with two feeds and consequently the knitting cams I6 are doubled accordingly. The cams I6, I6 are carried by the usual form of cam ring I! which is secured in any suitable manner to the cylinder cam plate II for relative rotation with respect to the fixed needle cylinder 8, said cam plate and cam ring being rotated by the ring gear I2 which is driven in any suitable manner from the main drive shaft (not shown) of the machine.

At substantially diametrically opposed points in the cam ring I1 are secured vertically extending posts l8, I8. Carried by the posts I8, I8 is a bridge member I9 which extends across the axis of the cylinder 8 at a substantial elevation above the upper end 20 of said cylinder. Carried by and projecting above the bridge member I9 is a guide tube 2|. Secured to the underside of the bridge member I9 by screws 22 in axial alignment with the tube 2| and the cylinder 8 is a cylindrical stop element 23.

Freely mounted in axial alignment with the stop member 23 and the cylinder 8 intermediate the lower edge 24 of the said stop member and the upper work supporting end edge 20 of the cylinder 8 is a web holder 25. The web holder 25 is in the form of a short cylinder in the outer peripheral surface of which is formed a series of vertical grooves 26, 26. The grooves 26, 26 are equal in number to and are substantially aligned with the needle grooves l3 of the needle cylinder 8.

The outer surface of the web holder 25 is provided with a circumferentially extending threadreceiving groove 21, from the lower side of the base of which to the outer peripheral edge 29 of the lower surface 30 of the said cylindrical web holder 25 the outer peripheral surface of th: webholding cylinder 25 is inclined, as at 28.

Secured to each of the posts l8 and approximately in line with the circumferential groove, 21 of the web holder 25 is a thread guide 3|. Secured to each post |8, above the thread guide 3|, is bracket 32 in which is mounted a thread guide 33. Secured to each bracket 32 and disposed intermediate the thread guides 3| and 33 carried by each post I8 is a thread-tensioning device 34, of conventional form.

Secured to the cylinder cam plate H and surrounding the cam ring I! is an annular hub member 35 which is provided with diametrically opposed radially extending arms 36, 36, each of which is adapted to support and carry a thread cone 31.

Secured in the hub ring 35 and extending vertically therefrom is a pair of diametrically opposed rods 38, 38 supporting at their upper end a cross bar 39 in which is mounted a pair of outer thread guides 40, 48 and a pair of inner thread guides 4|, 4|. The threads 1:, a: pass from the cones 31, 31 respectively, each to an outer thread guide 40, thence to and through an inner thread guide 4| from which it passes to a thread guide 33 carried by one of the posts l8. From the thread guide 33 the thread passes through the tensioning device 34 to the thread guide 3| from which the thread passes to a group of needles under control of one of the sets of knitting cams |6.

As the cam ring I! revolves about the needle cylinder 8 the thread guides 3|, 3| feed the threads :1:, a: respectively to the needles I4, H at opposite sides of the needle cylinder, the knitting cams l6, H5 at the same time effecting longitudinal movement of the needles I4 through the course of stitches y, then hanging on the needles |4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the hooks Ma, Ma of the needles I 4, l4 have been projected into diametrically opposite slots 26 in the cylindrical web holder 25 to elevations above the upper side of the circumferential groove 21 in said web holder, wherein the stitches y, y hanging on the needles have cleared the latches of the needles l4, l4 respectively.

As the needles I4 begin to descend, as illus trated in Fig. 3, the stitches y, 'y resting on the upper surface 20 of the needle cylinder 8 get behind the latches |4b, |4b of the needles while the threads 1:, a: are laid in the groove 21 between the latches |4b, I41) and the hook Ma, Ma of the needles. As each needle descends further, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the latch |4b is closed around the thread at, holding the thread within the hook to be drawn through the stitch y. As the needle descends further, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the thread a: under high tension applied by the tensioning device 34 slides down the inclined surface 28 of the web holder 25 and is moved forward in the hook |4a of the needle toward the front thereof. I

As the needle descends still further, and due to the tensioning on the thread at, as the inner surface of the hook |4a approaches the lower surface 30 of the web holder 25 the thread :1: is snapped around the peripheral edge 29 of the said lower surface 30 to a position below the lower surface 30 of the web holder and inwardly from the peripheral edge 29 thereof.

As the needle descends further, as shown in Fig. 6, the hook of the needle moves to a position below the upper surface 20 of the needle cylinder 8 while the stitch y of the previous course is supported by the upper surface 20 of the needle cylinder, whereby the needle |4 draws the thread a: in a loop through the said stitch y.

The needle M then reverses its direction of movement, as shown in Fig. 7, after the stitch 1 has been cast over the hook of the needle, whereby the newly formed stitch y is left resting on the upper surface 20 of the needle cylinder 8.

As the needle continues to rise, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the tendency of the newly formed stitch 1/ is to rise with the needle, such upward movement of the newly formed stitch is prevented by the said newly formed stitch engaging the under surface 30 of the web holder 25, which holds the newly formed stitch in this substantially fixed position while the needle rises to its full extent through said stitch, from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 2

ready for a new supply of the thread a: to form a stitch in the next succeeding course.

Due to the fact that the vertical grooves 26 in the web holder 25 are of a width just sufficient to receive the cheek and latch of the needle, the newly formed stitches are prevented from rising in the slots 26 with the needles M by the edges 42, 42 immediately adjacent the needle grooves 26 formed by and at the intersection of the vertical grooves 26 with the horizontal under surface 30 of the web holder 25.

By the use of the web holder as described in connection with the needle cylinder 8, it is possible to make the stitches of each course extremely short whereby a greater number of courses per inch longitudinally of the tube may be formed to provide the necessary circumferential binding around the primary element 2 to give the finished hose pipe the desired radial strength.

In Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, the primary element Z is shown as moving downwardly through the guide tube 2|, the stop element 23, web holder 25 and the cylinder 8, the knitted tube Y moving downwardly through the cylinder 8 with the primary member Z after having been knit in the space between the upper edge 20 of the needle cylinder and the lower surface 30 of the web holder 25. This, however, is not essential and the primary element Z and finished tube Y knitted therearound may move upwardly from the knitting plane PP through the web holder 25, the stop member 23 and the guide tube 2|, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 12, which presents the reverse face of the fabric to the element Z from that presented when the two move downwardly as noted above. In either case, the newly formed stitch is held in a substantially fixed position between the upper surface 20 of the needle cylinder 8 and the lower surface 30 of the web holder, whereby close tight knitting of the tube Y around the primary member Z is effected.

aosaeas The web holder 25 preferably is not rigidly secured to the stop member 23 but may rise and fall as occasion requires so as to keep the lower surface 30 thereof at all times in intimate contact with the course of stitches hanging on the needles l4, however, the stop member 23 limits displacement between the web holder 25 and needle cylinder 8 is effectively prevented.

In cases where a single feed is employed the web holder 25 may then be secured to the lower end of the stop element 23 or be formed as an integral part thereof as desired.

I claim:

1. The combination of a needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, needles parallel to the axis of the cylinder and supported by and operable longitudinally of said cylinder, and a web holder comprising relatively fixed work-engaging surfaces intermediate and immediately adjacent the opposite sides respectively of said needles and extending from the front to the back faces thereof in a plane closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the worksupporting end of the cylinder for engaging and holding those parts of knitted stitches on and lying at said opposite sides of said needles from movement with and by the needles during said longitudinal movement thereof.

2. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needlereceiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, needles in said grooves in parallel relation to the aligned axes of the cylinder and work holder respectively, and work-engaging surfaces on said cylinder end and said web holder immediately adjacent the opposite sides of each of said needles and extending from the back to the front faces thereof in closely adjacent parallel planes for holding the side portions of the knitted stitches hanging on the needles from movement with and by the respective needles during movement of said needles longitudinally of the aligned cylinder and web holder.

3. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needlereceiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the worksupporti-ng end of the cylinder, and needles operable longitudinally of and in said grooves whereby thread-engaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, said web holder having a circumferential groove intersecting said needle grooves and spaced from said work-engaging surfaces for feeding thread to said needles.

4. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needle-receiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-supporting end of the cylinder, and needles operable longitudinally of'and in said grooves whereby thread-engaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, said web holder having a circumferential groove intersecting said needle grooves and spaced from said work-engaging surfaces with the peripheral surface of said web holder intermediate said circumferential groove and said work-engaging surfaces inclined from substantially the base of said grooves to the peripheral edge of ,the web holder at the plane of said work-engaging surfaces, for feeding thread to said needles.

5. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needle-receiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces.

thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-supporting end of the cylinder, needles operable longitudinally of and in said grooves whereby thread-engaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, said web holder having a circumferential groove intersecting said needle grooves and spaced from said work-engaging surfaces with the peripheral surface of said web'holder intermediate said circumferential groove and said work-engaging surfaces inclined from substantially the base of said grooves to the peripheral edge of the web holder at the plane of said work-engaging surfaces, and a relatively rotatable thread guide disposed adjacent said circumferential groove for feeding thread across said needles in said circumferential groove.

6. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needle-receiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-supporting end of the cylinder, needles operable longitudinally of and in said grooves whereby thread-engaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, said web holder having a circumferential groove intersecting said needle grooves and spaced from said work-engaging surfaces with the peripheral surface of said web holder intermediate said circumferential groove and said work-engaging surfaces inclined from substantially the base of said grooves to "the peripheral edge of the web holder at the plane of said work-engaging surfaces, a relatively rotatable thread guide disposed adjacent said circumferential groove for feeding thread across said needles in said circumferential groove, and tensioning means for applying inder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needle-receiving grooves formed in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-supporting end of the cylinder, needles operable longitudinally of and in said grooves whereby threadengaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, said web holder having a circumferential groove intersecting said needle grooves and spaced from said work-engaging surfaces with the peripheral surface of said web holder intermediate said circumferential groove and said work-engaging surfaces inclined from substantially the base of said grooves to the peripheral edge of the web holder at the plane of said workengaging surfaces, a relatively rotatable thread guide disposed adjacent said circumferential groove for feeding thread across said needles in said circumferential groove, tensioning means for applying tension to the thread prior to its delivery to said thread guide, and means for limiting axial movement of the web holder in a direction away from the cylinder as a result of crowding of work under tension between the work engaging and supporting surfaces of the web holder and cylinder respectively.

8. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder in free floating relation thereto, said cylinder and web holder having longitudinally aligned needle grooves in their peripheral surfaces respectively, needles operable in said grooves whereby axial alignment between the cylinder and web holder is maintained, and means for limiting axial movement of the web holder in a direction away from the cylinder.

9. The combination of a hollow needle cylinder adapted to support knitted work at one of its ends, an annular web holder axially aligned with said cylinder, said web holder and said cylinder having longitudinally aligned needle-receiving grooves formed'in the peripheral surfaces thereof respectively, work-engaging surfaces on said web holder immediately adjacent the needle grooves of the web holder in a plane adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-supporting end of the cylinder, and needles operable longitudinally of and in said grooves whereby threadengaging ends of said needles are projected into the needle grooves of the web holder to positions beyond the said work-engaging surfaces thereof, the peripheral surface of the web holder adjacent the work-engaging surfaces thereof being inclined from substantially the base of the needle grooves to the peripheral outer edges of said work-engaging surfaces for feeding thread to said needles.

WALTER LARKIN. 

